Stop-motion for knitting-machines.



Patented Apr. 22, I902. F. wucoma. V STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Nov; 2, 19Q0.) (No Model.)

' 6/ ii 5, 6'0 O f/ i 36, 5/ f I a i 1 am I 1 "5 ,III I. I 5 3 /z r l7zven26r THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. NGYO-UTNO WASNINOYON. Dv C.

Pa t entad Ap r. 22.1902.

' F. WILCDMB.

STOP 0110" FUR KNITTING MACHINES. (Appliation filed Nov. 2, 1900.) I .(NoJIod'aL). I 4 Sheats-.$heet 2.

mo. msmun'rou. n. e. V m: Noam: Pzrsns co, Pmrrou W No. 698,089. Patented Apr. 22, I902.

' F. WILCOMB.

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

(Application filed Nov. 2, 1900.

4'Shaats Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

[wezzz Patented Apr. 22, I902.

F. W'ILCOMB. STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

' (Application filed Nov. 2, 190 0.)

4 She e ts-Shaet 4.

(No Model.)

THE mums rrrmficol'wmoumoq WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT Genres."

FRANK wILooMB, or NORRISTO-WN, PENNSYLVANIAQ STOP-MOTION FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,089, dated April 22, 1902.

Application filed November 2,1 900i Serial No. 35,272. (No model.) i l l have invented certain.- new; and useful Im-f provements 1 in Stop Motions} for; Knitting- .Machines of which the followingis a specifi-j I bobbin.

cation.

The objectofi my invention is to provide a suitable stop-motion for knitting-machines whereby the machine is stopped whenever the yarn becomes caught on the bobbin or snarls,

knots, burs, or other obstructions pass from the bobbin toward the needles and also when the supply of thread becomes exhausted or when loose endsoccur in the winding of the The stopping of the machine takes place before the obstructions or loose endreachesthe needlesand is entirely automatic, being mechanically operated as distinguished from a mechanism which'is electrically operated. 7 I

One of the main features of my invention consists in a shearing mechanism for severing the yarn near the'supply end whenever'th'e yarn becomes entangled on the bobbin ora knot or other obstruction passes from the bobbin toward the needles or when a loose end occurs. This severing device is connected with the operating parts of the stop-motion,

so that when it is actuated the stop-motion. mechanism will also be operated to stop the machine. By thus severing the yarn at the time the stop-motion acts to arrest the rotation of the machine I provide a long loose or free portion of yarn, which the machine can draw through the guides and knit up as it i coming to a state of rest. I prefer to make the operation of the stopmotion mechanism dependent upon theoperation of the severing devices, and this feature forms-an important part of my invention. By this arrangement the severing of the yarn and theoperationofthestop-motion devices take place simultaneouslyand there is no danger of thework being run off of the needles v or of the yarn being broken atthe needles.

Stop-motions of the type herein shown are arranged centrallyatan elevated point over the knitting-head, and by reason of the weight of the parts thus disposed and thedist-ance above theknitting-head at which they must motion.

be'placed in-order to providesufficient-surplus yarn to be knit up'byjthe machine in coming to rest the lnachineis rendered topheavy, and special supporting means must be provided for the upperp'arts ofthe stoping device-to provide a long loose end of the yarn and also by the location of the feeler- J finger at a point lower down than heretofore used and adjacent to the severing device. 1 I

This objection is especially marked in machines in which the bobbins and upper parts'aremade to revolve. I

theheight of the upper structure, and I am. aided in this by the employment of the sever-- I aim to reduce" have also provided a novel form of ,knot{ catcher, whereby threading of the yarn there 1 through is facilitated and the yarn is'securel'y I held against disengagement therefrom; I My.

invention further includes an improvedform; of feeler-finger, which is designed to be less sensitive to irregularities in the strainof the y rn. and will be less liable to vibrate or,

chatter, which tendsto produce irregular knitting and breakage.

I employ a tripping-spring to set offthe stop-motion and allow the power-spring there-f I of to act, and. this is arranged to be thrown into action either by the overhead sweep or by the feeler. By the use of thistrippingspring I render the stop-motion more sensi tive, as will be shown hereinafter.

My invention includes also the connections leading to the driving means arranged-to be. operated by the momentum of the'machine and in means whereby various parts of the mechanism will be reset automatically ready for another operation. v

My invention also includes various features 7 My invention is designedto be an improvement upon that formuof stop-motion shown in the Letters Patent of the'United States grantedto Crawford December 12, 1893, No. 510,839. I b

In the drawings, Figurel is asideview of" my overhead stop-motion, Fig. 2"is aplan view of Fig. ,l-withsome of the'r'adia-ting supporting-arms omittedor broken away to show the mechanism beneath the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of. the transmitting connections, this viewloeing on the line 3 30f Fig. 1, with the 9 7 and combinations hereinafter fully" described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

upper structure removed. Fig. at is a vertical sectional view on line 4c l of Fig. 2, but with some of the lower connections slightly out of place for convenience of illustration. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the knot-detector plate. Fig. 6 is an edge view of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and S are detail views of the sections of the detectorplate. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the feelerfinger and its guide. Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the feeler-finger and guide. Fig. 11 is a view of a detail. Fig. 12 represents the stop-motion in place on the machine. Fig. 13 is a sectional view through the knittinghead on line A A of Fig. 14 and along the drive-shaft on line B B of said figure. Fig. 14: is a plan view of part of my invention. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the throw-out finger,

showing its relation to the knitting-head.

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing the throw-out lever in its relation to the parts for operating it. Fig. 17is a view of a detail of connection between the parts.

The stop-motion is carried by a standard a, extending centrally above the machine. It carries a head I), which contains and supports the transmitting connections of the stop-motion. This head is surmounted by a cap-plate c, which is secured thereto by screws (1, Fig. 2. From this cap-plate the continuation or section e of the standard a extends upwardly, and radiating from the cap-plate are a series of arms f, corresponding in number to the number of feeds desired on the knitting-machine. Near the outer ends of these arms feeler-fingers g are pivoted, said fingers being arranged to be held up in normal posi tion, which is nearly perpendicular, so long as the yarn is present at the feeler and to fall by gravity as soon as the supply of yarn becomes exhausted or a loose end occurs in the yarn. These feeler-fingers are located adjacent to knot catchers or detectors h, designed to catch any obstructions on the thread, such as knots, snarls, bunches, burs, or the like. These parts--viz., head 1), capplate 0, radiating arms f, with the knot catchers and feelersare arranged at the lower or intermediate part of the standard, as shown in Fig. 12, while at the top of the standard are arranged sweeps 2;, which are pivoted at 7i: to lugs Z, projecting from a block m, secured to the standardsection c by a set-screw n. The sweep has a short lever-arm 0, extending into a kerf in the block, and from this arm c011- nections lead to the tripping and transmitting connections of the stopnnotiom-as will be hereinafter described.

The head Z) and cap-plate c of the stopnnotion are placed a suificient distance above the machine to permit the bobbin to unwind properly, and from the bobbin the yarn is given a circuitous course past the stop-motion-controlling devices before reaching the needles. The yarn first passes through one of the eyes 12 of the knot-catcher 7L, thence between shear-blades q 1-, supported by the radiating armsfon the lower side thereof, r

from which point the yarn passes by the feeler g and its guide 5, so as to contact with these parts, and it then passes upwardlyinto engagement with the outer hooked end of the sweep 'L', thence horizontally to the guidehook if on the block m, and from here it passes downwardly to the feed eye or finger of the machine.

\Vhen an obstruction, such as a knot, arrives at the knot-catcher 7L, it is caught and arrested thereby, and the strain of the yarn from the needles will immediately pull the sweep downwardly. On the other hand, when the yarn becomes exhausted or a loose end occurs in the yarn and this loose end arrives at the feeler said feeler-finger will be no longer sustained by the yarn, but will fall by gravity from its nearly-perpendicular position to that shown on the right of Fig. 1.

The operation of either the sweep or the feeler will effect the operation of the trip mechanism, the shears, and of the transmitting connections leading to the shipper devices in the following manner: As the operation of the main tripping mechanism andthe said transmitting connections is made dependent upon the operation of the shears, I will first describe the shearing mechanism. One of the shear-blades q is fixed to the under side of the downwardly-extending end *0 of the radial arm by a pin w, Fig. 4-, entering an opening in the blade, which pin holds the blade from turning about the pivot-pin 5v, upon which the blade 0* is pivotally m cunted. The blade 7 is held up against the upper blade bya spring 3 encircling the pivotpin, having its lower end connected with an adjusting-nut and its upper end engaging the movable blade 0'. The upper blade is held against the under side of the end 1) of the radial arm by a shoulder on the pivot-pin 00, as shown in Fig. 4.. The pivot-pin is held rigidly in place by a screw 37. This spring also serves to press the movable blade against the fixed blade to insure a proper shearing action. The fixed blade has a notch l in its tailpiece, and this receives the lower end of a detent-catch 2, which is pivoted in aslot 3, formed in the radial arm. This catch holds the shears open by its lower end engaging the tailpiece 4 of the movable blade 1', said tailpiece bearing upon the detent in a lateral direction. The detent-catch is pivoted adjacent to the pivot 5 of the feeler g, the lower short arm 6 of which extends down through the slot 3 close to and in line with the depending arm of the catch 2, so that when the feeler falls over, owing to the failure of the yarn, the detent will be operated to release the movable shear-blade, which then closes under the action of the spring y and severs the yarn at this point. The same operation of the detent and shears is eifected when a knot or obstruction passes from the bobbin toward the needles. struction, and the pull of the yarn will then lower the long arm of the sweep i, as before The knot-catcher 7?. will arrest such obting connections to actuate the shipping devices and stop the machine.

For the latter purpose the movable shear-blade has a pin 12, which is engaged by abell-crank lever 13, pivoted at 14C to the under side .of the armf. The short arm of thisbell-cranklever engages the end of a rod 15, arranged to slidelongitudinallyin-a bearing 16, secured to the underside of the arm and in a way'or groove 17 of the head I). The rod projects into the head I), and its inner end bears upon one arm of a bell-crank lever 19, pivoted to the upper'surface of the head, the other arm of said lever engaging pin 20, depending from a plate or arm 21, Fig. 11, which is arranged to turn about a pin 22, screwed into the upper surface of the head, the said plate resting upon a central boss 23 of the head,'so as to overlie the levers 19, the rods, and other parts. j pin 120 on the arm 21 is arranged adjacent to the detent 25, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is pivoted to the headb and has a tooth 26 for en gaging and retaining a ring 30 when the parts are set ready for operation, so as to hold this ring against movement, said tooth engaging a shoulder 27 on the ring. The ring surrounds a shoulder 31 of the head I) and operates under the rods 15. A pin 32 depends from this ring through a slot 33 in the head and connects with an arm 34, fixed to a rock-shaft to, which forms a part of the transmitting connections of the let-off hereinafter described.

A spring 35, connected at one end to the arm 34 and at the other end to the under side of the head 6, serves to operate the rock-shaft on the yarn at the knot-catcher or the feelerf scribed is as follows: VV-heneither the sweep is operated bythe'arrestingof an obstruction finger is released by the failure of the supply, the pivoted detent 2 will be thrown out of engagement with the tailpiece at of the movable shear-blade, and this will close under the action of its spring y. Y Theyarn, if there be any at the shear-blades,.willbe'cut. The closing of the movable blade will through the bell-crank 13 pushin the rod 15, thus operating the bell-crank 19 and through the pin 20 turning the arms 21, so i. that the pin 120, which is adjacent to the detent 25, will operate the sameto release the ring 30, allowing the spring 35 to operate thearm 34 to turn the rock-shaft a, leading to the let-off connections, and thus stop the machine. The movement of the rock-shaft will also rotate the resetting-ring 38 through thearm-36, and the arm 40, moving with the resetting-ring,

Willin the final movement of the ring strike thepin 12 of the movable shear-blade, and thus reset it to normal open position ready for the threading of the machine and another operation, in which position it will be caught and held by the detent 2. The/tailpiece of the movable shear-blade is rounded on one edge at 41, Fig. 2, so that it will pass the arm of the detent 2 when reset by the arm 40. The opposite edge of the tailpiece is flat, so that it will be retained by the detent, against which itpresses laterally.- The resetting movement of the spring 35 will also rotate a rock-shaft 48, journaled in bearings on the arm f, by means of anarm 50 on said rookshaft engaging the resetting-arm 40. The opposite end of the rock-shaft is provided with an arm 51, extending laterally of the radiat- I ing supporting-arm f and across the plane of movement of the feeler, so that when the feeler falls it will rest upon this arm, and

when the resetting-ring is turned to open the shears the rock-shaft will be rotated through its arm 50 and its arm 51 will be thrown up, thus raising the feeler-finger ready for the threading operation, after which the arm 40,

ring 38, and other parts can be reset, as'will be described.

It will be noticed that the only work that the feeler or the sweep is called nponto do.

in order to cause the operation of the stopmotion is to move the detent 2. The motive force is supplied by the tripping-spring y,

and this operates the main trip 25 of the transmitting connections. The detent 2 is.

light in weight and little force is required to operate it. This detent being located between the walls of the slotted arm f is supported shaft 11, is turned and through the arm 34 the ring 31 is turned back until it iscaught and held by the detent-catch 25. The detent 25is pressed to engage the ring-3O by a'springieti.

The turning of the rock-shaft u for reset+ ting can be effected in any:suitable way by, hand preparatory to starting the machine. 7

The resetting action described also causes the movement of the resetting-ring 38 back to center of the disk.

normal position and the withdrawal of the arm 4l0from the shears, leaving them open ready for another operation.

I havedescribed one set of devices; but it will be understood that all others of the four sets shown are arranged and operated in a similar manner, and when either of the rods 15, Fig. 3, is pushed in to operate its bellcrank 19 the same effect will be secured- 6.

e., the rotation of the arms 21, carrying the pins 20, and the tripping of the detent 25 and the release of the ring 30 and let-off connections.

The power of the tripping-spring 1 can be adjusted by turning the nut z, to which the springis attached, about the screw-threaded pivot-pin Ajam-nut 11 may also be used. For applying an adjustable tension to the sweep I arrange a spring 46 on the rod 7, hearing at its lower end against a collar a8 fixed thereto and at its upper end against a collar" 47, fixed adjustably to the standard e. By moving this collar 47 down or up the tension of the spring is made greater or less, thus requiring more or less strain on the yarn to operate the sweep.

The parts within the head are accessible by simply removing the cap-plate c.

The knot-catcher, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, consists of a plate formed of two disks or sections 52 53, secured together in any suitable manner, such as by the pins 57. The lower disk is provided with a series of open mouthed radial notches 5% of different sizes for different sizes ofyarn, disposed at different points about the disks. The upper disk is cut away at 56 and is provided with openings 1), rounded on their edges-nearest the These openings are guarded by spiral fingers or guards 55,formed simply by turning up and bending into spiral or compound-curved form the portions ofthe plate cut away from the spaces 56. These guards extend inwardly and upwardly at a slight incline, as shown in Fig. 6, across the mouth of the opening. Their extreme inner ends are sufficiently above the plate to permit the operator to readily insert the thread under the guard and into the opening 1).

The inclination of the guard, as shown in Fig. 6, provides a wide entrance for the insertion of the thread thereunder, and the inelined edge of the guard directs the thread into place, and when in the openingp the thread is effectually prevented from slipping out both by the guard and by the edge of the open-mouthed slot 5a in the lower disk. By this construction I secure all the advantages of an orifice or eye having a continuous edge or of a circular orifice which is best adapted to detecting or catching obstructions of various shapes, and-at the same time I obtain all the advantages in threading that are possessed by open-mouth slots ornotches, as the thread can be passed into the eye from the edge of the disk or catcher instead of threading it through an opening having a continuone edge forming a closed edge. This thread catcher is held adjustably by a thumb-nut 58, which screws into the lower end of the pivot-pin 0c of the shears, the nut pressing the plate between itself and the lower end of the said pin. By loosening the thumb-nut the disk can be turned around to bring any one of the eyes into line with the shears.

The feelers g operate, as before stated, in conuection'with guides s,which are supported upon standards 60, connected to the radial armsf. The feeler has an opening 61, a cross piece or bar 62, and a bearing-surface for the yarn. The cross-bar 62 extends at right angles to and is adapted to lie between upper and lower guide-fingers (33 (it, carried by the standard (50. The guide-finger 63 is of U shape or in the form of a loop, its free end being bent back opposite its main portion. The lower guide-finger is of right-angular form, its free end after passing through the opening 61 extending laterally in line with said opening and in a plane parallel with the face of the feed-finger.

The bar 62 of the feeler is adapted to bear against a limiting or stop edge 66, provided on the guide, where it is intended to beheld by the yarn slightly out of perpendicular, so that it will fall outwardly by gravity when the yarn becomes exhausted or fails for any other reason.

\Vhen the parts are in working position, the thread passes over the surface 65, back of the lower guide-finger 6i of the guide, thence over or in front of the bar 62 of the feeler, and thence through or back of the upper guide-finger 63. The parts are so arranged that when the bar 62 is bearingagainst the stop 66 of the guide the yarn will pass with practically no friction being exerted thereon; but

as soon as the fceler tends to move out of its normal or nearly-perpendicular position the yarn, assuming a slightly-circuitous course, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 9, will act upon the comparatively large contact-surface of the feelerand immediately return the same to its normal position. This arrangement materially lessens the tendency of the feeler to vibrate or tremble, and thus irregularities in the work will be prevented. The feelerfinger and its guide are made of sheet metal, and the yarn works against the flat surfaces on these parts, thus giving the desired contact-surface when the feeler tends to move from normal position.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged relatively to each other that when the bar 62 of the feeler is bearing against the stop edge (36 the contact-surfaces of the feeler will lie slightly to one side of the course of the yarn. This limitation of the feeler is an important feature in my in vention,as it prevents it from swinging unnecessarily beyond the course of the yarn, which would cause vibration of the upper end due to striking the contact-surface and rebounding. In my arrangement the feeler comes to rest against the stop IIC edge 66 as soon as the yarn straightens out across the contact-surfaces.

The arrangement of the gu ide-fingers in relation to the feeler and the form of the feeler facilitates threading of the yarn, as all that is necessary is to pass the yarn between the laterally-open guide-finger 64 and the feeler and thence through the guide-finger 63.

From the above description it will be noticed that the, shears are located close to the yarn-catcher, and this I locate in about the position in which it is placed in ordinary practice. This being the case, it will be noticed that when an obstruction occurs and the machineis to be stopped I sever the thread close to the knot-catcher, so that the length of thread which is left for the machine to knit up before coming to rest is that which extends from the shears or the knot-catcher up through the overhead sweep and guides and thence down to the needles, this length being entirely sufficient to feed the needles while the machine is coming to a state of rest after the stop-motion has been set off. This surplus length is drawn through the sweep and overhead guides the same as in the ordinary knitting operation.

In machines where the thread is not severed,

- but is simply thrown off the overhead hooks and isallowed to drop in unbroken loop form, such as in the Crawford patent referred to, upon the occurrence of an obstruction the length of surplus thread is less than mine an amount equal to the distance between the needles and the yarn-catcher, and should the machine continue running the yarn would break at the needles and allow the work to run off.

The dropping of the yarn in loopIform is objectionable for the further reason that it is liable to become entangled, whereas in my arrangement the loose end of the yarn formed by severing it at the shears is simply drawn through the guides, offering no more resistance than that due to the weight of the yarn. In other words, in the machines of the Crawford type the momentum of the machine can knit up only a portion of the loose unbroken loop-that is, until the yarn becomes taut between the needles and the knot-catcherwhen the supply of slack will become exhausted and breakage at the needles will occnrif the machine continues. By my invention the slack which may be utilized includes the length which would extend from the needles straight to the knot-catcher. It will be seen also that by my arrangement almost an equal length of thread to that above mentioned remains to be knit up by the momentum of the machine when the supply becomes exhausted or a loose end occurs, and this is due to arranging the feeler-finger apart from the overhead sweep and low down close to the shears and knot-catcher, so that there will be a long length of yarn between this feeler and the needles. These parts- (feelerfinger and sweep) are made by me inde- .by the knot-catcher.

pendent of each other in their action instead of making the action of the sweep to set off the stop-motion dependent upon the operation of the feeler, as has been done heretofore.

The trip devices and transmitting connections I arrange low down on the standard instead of at or near the top thereof, and at the top of said standard I arrange the sweeps so as to get a sufficient length of loose yarn to be knit up by the machine. By thus separating the trip and transmitting connections from the sweep and arranging them low down the machine is prevented from being made top-heavy and extra guiding or bracing means for the standard are rendered unnecessary. So far as the height of the sweeps above the machine is concerned, this can be materially parts are brought within easier reach of the operator.

The feeler may be termed a detecting device as wellas the knot-catcher, the latter being to detectobstructions and the former to detect the absence of-yarn. The sweep may also .be considered to be detector means, as it detects or is effected by taut yarn, whether because the yarn becomes caught on the bobbin or because an obstruction is caught While I prefer to make the operation ,of the transmitting con ncctions dependent upon IOO the operation of the shears, I do not wish to limit myself in this respect, as the actuatingspring y may be employed without the shearblades and may be tripped in a manner similar to that described. By my present arrangement, however, the yarn is always severed and a long loose end provided thereby, and the stop-motion is always operated when an obstruction occurs or the yarn becomes caught or when a loose end occurs or the supply becomes exhausted.

By making thestop-motion dependent upon the operation of the shears it willbe seen that the stopping mechanism is operated as soon as the yarn is severed, and the momentum of the machine will simply knit up a portion of the .came taut, in which case the continued movement ormomentum ofthe. machine would d raw upon the yarn and break it at the needles.

Where I use the term ower-transmittin 5 devices herein,I mean the devices which transmit the movement of the detector means, whether this means be the feele r or the sweep, and I do not mean to imply that said devices are intended to transmit the power of the springs 1 only.

It will be noticed that the sweep and feelerfinger are each capable of operating the stopmotion devices independently of the other, the sweep having a connection to the tripping mechanism independent of the feeler.

Fig. 12 represents the stop-motion-on the machine, and this view, together with Figs. 13, 11, 15, and 16, illustrates the connections leading from the stop-motion to the clutch which controls the machine. The driving means for the knitting-head I will now describe, together with the connections leading therefrom to the shaft u, before referred to. In these drawings, 68 indicates generally the lmitting-head. Agear 69, connected to the knitting-head, meshes with a pinion 70 on an upright shaft 71, which is driven from the main driving-shaft 72 through the bevelgears 73. The shaft 72 is rotated through a pulley 74, arranged loosely thereon to he slid longitudinally thereof to make its clutch-pins 75 engage or disengage the pins of aclutch-wheel 76, which is fixed on the shaft and is similar to that described in application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by me August 1, 1900, Serial No. 25,915. The beltwheel is shifted longitudinally of the main driving-shaft through an arm 77 engaginga groove in the hub of the pulley, said arm being operated through a link 78, connectedwith a shipper-lever 79, pivoted to a boss on the bearing of the main driving-shaft. For holding the pulley either in or out I employ a friction device similar to that described in application for Letters Patent of the United States, dated August 7, 1900, Serial No. 20,158, designed to place the shipper connection under restraint, and this device comprises a friction-clutch 80,composed of a number of jaws forming a conical-shaped head and arranged upon a rod 81, connected with the shipper-arm 77, before described. This rod passes through a stud 82, formed on the shaft-bearing. The conical head of the friction device fits into a socket of corresponding shape formed in a block 83, loose on the rod 81, said block being pressed against the friction device to close the jaws thereof upon the rod by a spring 84:, surrounding the rod 81 and hearing at its ends upon the stud 82 and block 83, respectively. lVhen the friction device is maintained as to its position longitudinally of the shaft in the position shown in Fig. 13, the spring St will force the block 83 upon the conical head of the clutch, and thus cause the jaws thereof to grip the rod 81 with sufficient friction to hold said rod in either position to which it may be moved through the operation of the shipper-lever, and the driving-pulley will be held by this friction device either in or out of engagement with clutch parts of the clutch-wheel. For holding the friction device against displacement longitudinally of the shaft 81 I employ a spring-pin 85, carried by a lever 80, pivoted to the stud 87, in which the stem 88 of the friction device is guided. So long as this pin engages the head of the friction device, as shown, the clam p or clutch will hold the rod 81 in either position. Supposing now that the friction (leviceis held in this manner and the loose pulley is shifted toward the right, so that the clutch parts ento drive the machine, this action will bring the stopnut 89 against the end of the stem 88 of the friction device. If now the lever S6 is turned so as to remove the pin 85 from behind the conical head of the friction device, said device will be free to move left ward, which it will do under the action of.

the spring 81:, and the rod 81 will also be carried along in this movement by the stem 88, hearing against the stop-nut 89. In this Way the driving-pulley will be thrown out of engagement with the clutch-block by simply withdrawingthe retaining-pin S5. The pin 85 and lever are utilized to control the driving connection from the automatic let-off mechanism. The automatic let-off connection comprises a link 90, connected with the lever 86 and by a pin 91 with a ring 92, supported on a shoulder 93 of thebase-ring 9% of the knitting-head. This ring has a depending pin 95 extending through an opening in a lever 90, pivot-ally connected to the basering. This lever is adapted when raised to be operated by one of the pins 98, projecting downwardly from the gear 09, and when moved by one of these pins the lever will, through the pin 95, move the ring and operate through the link 90 and lever 86 to withdraw the pin and stop the machine. The lever is held below the level of the pins 98 by a rod 99, having a fork 100 at its lower end engaging a groove 101 in the hub of the lever. The leveris pressed upwardly by a spring 102, surrounding the pin 95. The rod 99 is held down by the let-oif or throw-out arm 103, which is loosely connected with or carried by the rock-shaft 101, journaled at 105 in the machine-frame and connected with the rockshaft it, before described, through the arm 107. The operation of the rock-shaft u, as before described, has the effect of moving the let-oil arm 103 from over the rod 99, allowing the lever 96 to rise under the action of the spring 102, so that the end of the lever will be in the path of the pins 98, one of which will now operate the leverand ring 99 to withdraw the pin 85 and throw out the driving connections in the manner described. In 0rder to immediately throw the retaining'pin 85 back to position ready to engage behind the conical head when the parts of the clutch are thrown into engagement by the lever 79, I employ a cam-ring 108, carried by the gear 69 and having a series of cam-surfaces 109. hen the lever 96 is struck by one of the pins 98 and turned, an arm 110 of the lever, Fig. 16, will be brought into line with the cam-surfaces 109, which acting thereon will depress the lever 96 out of engagement with the pin 98, and the rod 99, moving down with the lever, will be caught and held down by the throw-out arm 103, which swings over the end of the rod under the action of its spring 111 as soon as the rod 99 is lowered. When the lever 96 is lowered by the cam 109 out of contact with the pin 98, a spring 112, connected with the link and with the frame, will turn the lever 96 back to normal position and will reset the pin 85 in its position directly over the center of the driving-shaft and friction device. In this action the retainingpin will ride on the inclined surface of the friction device, the spring 113 yielding for this purpose. As soon as the shipper-lever is operated to engage the driving-clutch the rod 81, moving toward the right in this action, will cause the conical head of the friction device to be moved so that thespringpin will engage behind its edge and the rod will be held by the frictional restraint. The lever 96 is formed with a recess at 114 in its upper side in order to allow the same to rise withoutstrikingthecam-ring108. Thethrowout arm 103 is provided with a finger115, extending in close to the needles and intended to be operated by a lump or tangled part of the yarn at the point where the knitting is being done. The operation of the arm 10? by the finger 115 will have the same effect as that arising from the operation of the arm through the overhead stop-motion parts.

The arm 103 is adapted to be operated independently of the rock-shaft 101k and the overhead stop-motion parts, and the arrange ment is such that in addition to this independent action of the let-01f arm 103 said arm will be operated whenever the shafts u and 10 1-are operated by the overhead stop-motion. For this purpose the arm 103 is loosely connected with the rock-shaft 104, as shown in Fig. 17, the lower end of the rock-shaft extending loosely into the head 117 of the pivot screw 118 of the arm 103. The shaft 104 has a bent finger 119, carried thereby, which extends down alongside of the arm 103, so that when the rock-shaft 104 is operated by the overhead stop-motion it will turn the arm 103 and release the rod 99 and the let-off con nections. The arm 103, however, is free to turn in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 15, when a lump or snarl at the needles is caught by the finger 115, and thus the let-off connec-.

pose a handle 116 is provided on the arm 107, and when the machine is started after the resetting by the handle 116 the let-off arm 103 will be reset by the motion of the machine, as before described. By this arrangement if there is anything wrong with the thread, either at the needles or between the bobbin, the needles and the machine will be stopped, and it cannot be started until the fault is remedied and the overhead stop-motion is reset. This arrangement will prevent the operator from starting up the machine with a loose end of thread ready to run the work off the needles.

The spring 35 may be regarded as a main tripping-spring connected with the main trip mechanism, including the parts 25 30,-&c., located within the stop-motion head, while the parts including the spring y, the shearblade, and the cletent 2 may be regarded as a supplemental trip for controlling the main trip.

I claim- 1. In combinationinastop-motion,asweep, a feeler, means for severing the thread controlled by the operation of either the sweep or the feeler and connections controlled by the operation of the severing means for stopping the machine, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a stop-motion head having transmitting devices, a standard supporting the head, controlling means supported on the stop-motion head to engage the thread and having a connection with the transmitting devices extending substantiallyradially ICO inward toward the standard, a sweep radially arranged at the top of the standard and a connection therefrom extending downwardly to operate the transmitting devices through the said radial connection, substantially as described. a

3. In combination, a stop-motion head having transmitting devices, a standard carrying said head, a controlling device arranged on the head to engage the thread, an inwardlyextending substantially radial connection from said controlling device to the transmitting devices, a sweep arranged above the stop-motion head at the top of the standard and an operating connection leading therefrom downwardly along the standard and thence radially outward, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the standard, a stopmotion head thereon having transmitting devices, a sweep above the stop-motion head on the standard, a feeler supported substan tially in the same horizontal plane with the stop-motion head, a de'tent arranged to be operated by the feeler, radial connections from the detent to the transmitting devices of the stop-motion head, and a rod 7 extending down from the sweep to operate the detent, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a standard, a stop-m0- tion head supported thereon and havingradiating arms, a feeler and a knot-catcher arranged adjacent to each other at the outer ends of said radiating arms, a plurality of sweeps arranged at a point above the stopmotion head and on the standard, said sweeps radiating from the standard, transmitting devices carried by the stop-motion head and connections by which the sweeps and the feelers will operate said transmitting devices, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a standard, a stop-motion head thereon having transmitting devices, a plurality of feelers disposed at radial points about and supported on the stop-motion head, a plurality of sweeps supported at the upper end of the standard above the stopmotion head and radially arranged in respect to the standard, connections from said sweeps extending down to the transmitting devices of the stop-motion head, said transmitting devices being also controlled by the feelers, and said feelers being in the path of the yarn from the bobbin to the overhead sweep, substantially as described.

' 7. In combination, a sweep, a stop-motion head supporting transmitting devices, and a knot-catcher pivotally supported by the head and adjustable thereon about its pivot, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a stop-motion head having a plurality of arms, stop-motion connections, and a plurality of knot-catchers one being arranged at the outer end of each arm and adjustable independently of each other, substantially as described.

9. In combination in astop-motion fol-knitting-machines, a sweep, a standard carrying said sweep radially at or near its upper end, a stop-motion head supported on the standard at some distance below the sweep, severing devices for the yarn supported from said head, a knot-catcher also supported on said head, transmitting devices carried by the head, and a connection between the severing means and the transmitting device extending radially in relation to the standard, substantiall y as described.

10. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, a standard, a sweep arranged at the upper end of the same, a stopmotion head arranged on the standard at a point some distance below the sweep, severing means for the yarn supported onthe head, a feeler arranged radially in respect to the standard also supported on the head and transmitting devices carried by the head and connections from both the overhead sweep and the radially-arranged feeler to the transmitting devices whereby the latter are rendered operative by the movement of either the sweep or feeler, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, a sweep, a feeler, transmitting devices comprising a trip which includes severingmeans and connections where by either the sweep or the feeler can independently operate said trip, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a stop motion, transmitting devices comprising main trip mechanism, havingatripping-spring, a supplemental trip controlling the same, and a feeler and sweep arranged to operate said supplemental trip, said feeler being located adjacent to and operating the supplemental trip directly while the sweep operates the same through intermediate connections, substantially as described.

13. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, a standard, power-transmitting connections, a tripping-spring connected thereto, a detent or trip for holding the spring against action, a sweep located at the upper end of the standard, and the vertically-mowtble rod with crank connections to the detent or trip, said rod extending down from the overhead sweep, substantially as described.

14. In combination in a stop-motion, the power-transmitting devices, a spring for operating them, connections leading from the spring com prising an arm 4:, a slide-rod, a bellcrank between the arm :l: and slide-rod, a detent or trip for holding the arm 1, and detector means for controlling the detent, substantially as described.

15. In combination in astop-motion, detector means, the arm 21, the bell-crank lever for operating the same, the radial rod for operating the bell-crank lever, a holding-ring 30, a spring connected with the ring and held under restraint thereby, a deten t for holding the ring, said detent being arranged to be operated by the rotation of the arm, substantially as described.

16. In combination in a stop-motion, detector means, a stop-motion head, the arm within the head, trip connections to be operated thereby and means for operating the arm controlled by the detector, said means comprising the sliding rod and the bel1-crank lever, said bell-crank lever being pivoted within the head, substantially as described.

17. In combination, the severing means,the tripping mechanism, to be operated by the severing means, the connection between them comprising a sliding rod for imparting the movement of the severing means to the tripping mechanism, and detector means controlling the severing means, substantially as described.

lS. In combination,theseveringmeans, the tripping mechanism to be operated by the severing means, the connection between them comprising the slide-rod and the levers operated thereby and detector means controlling the severing means, substantially as described.

19. In combination, in a stopunotion, a plurality of detector means, a plurality of radially-sliding rods controlled thereby, bellcranks at theinner ends of said sliding rods,

IIO

in the final movement of said connections for rotary arms having pins to be engaged by said levers, a mainspring 35, a ring to which said spring is connected, means for holding the ring arranged to be operated by the rotation of the arms and connections leading from the spring, substantially as described.

20. In combination in a stop-motion for knittingmachines, a fixed and a movable shear-blade, said fixed blade having a notch therein, a detent engaging said notch, and arranged to hold the movable blade, a spring connected with the movable blade, to operate it when released and a'connection extending from the movable blade to operate the stopping devices, substantially as described.

21. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, means for severing the thread, detector means arranged to control the operation of the severing means, and automatically-operating means to reset the severing means tonormal position, substantially as described. v

22. In combination in a stopmotion for knitting-machines, the shears having the movable blade, with a spring for operatingit, controlling means for the shears, detector means controlling the same, power-transmitting devices controlled through the operation of the detector means and connections therefrom to the shears for resetting the same, substantially as described.

23. In combination, in a stop-motion, the shears, a spring for closing the same, detector means arranged to control the spring, connections operated by the spring when released including a trip mechanism, a spring released by said trip, connections operated by said' spring leading to the stopping devices and connections operated by said spring for resetting the shears, substantially as described.

24:. In combination, the shears, a spring for operating the same, detector means controlling the spring, connections operated by the release of the spring and simultaneously with the closing of the shears and means operated resetting the shears, substantially as described.

25. In combination, the shears, a spring for operating the same, detector means for controlling the action of the spring, connections including a trip mechanism actuated by said spring, a mainspring released by said connections,- a ring 38 operated by said spring and an arm 40 on said ring for returningthe shears to their opencondition, substantially as described.

, 26. In combination in a stop motion for knitting machines, a feeler finger, connections controlled by the said finger for stopping the machine and means for returning the finger to normal position consisting of the rockshaft and operating means therefor, substanknitting-machines, a feeler-finger, trip connections controlled thereby, aspring controlled by said trip connections and connections between the spring and the feeler-finger for returningthe same to normal position, substantially as described.

28. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, a feeler-finger, trip connections controlled thereby, a spring controlled by said trip connections and' connections between the spring and the feeler-finger for returning the same to normal position,

.and connections extending from the sweep to the detent including the rod 7 extendingalong the standard and the radial connections from the lower end of the rod to the detent, substantially as described.

30. In combination, the guide having the fingers and the feeler having its end in the 5 form of a closed loop through which one of the fingers projects, substantially as described.

31. In combination, the guidehaving onev finger and a laterally open secondfinger and the feeler of loop form adapted to receive the tially as described.

32. In combination, a guide having the two second finger through its opening substanfingers presenting months or openings at an- Y gles to each other and a feeler having an opening to receive one of the fingers, substantially as described.

33. In combination with the driving means,

let-oft connections, means on a moving part of'the machinefor operating the let-oft connections and means carried by a moving part of the machinefor resetting the let-oficonnections, substantially as described.

34.. In combination, a let-off arm, a retaining device forthe driving connections, oper ating means on a moving part of the machine, connections for operating'the retaining do-- vice, normally out of the path of the said op- I erating means, said connections being controlled by thelet-ofi arm whereby when the let-ofi arm is operated the connections will be in line with the operatingmeans, and means for resetting the connections, said means-being carriedby a moving part of the machine;

substantially as described. I v

35. In combination,the1et-offarm,thelever 96, a spring for pressing the leveru'pwardly,

said lever being controlled by the let-ofi arm,lthe pin on a moving part of the machine foroperating the lever, the retaining device for the driving connections, means connecting the lever with the retaining device, a cam on the moving part of the machine for forcing the lever down against the tension of the spring and out of line with the pin and means for resetting the connections when released l from the pin, substantially as described.

. forcing the lever upwardly, a retaining de- Vice for the driving connections, a pin on a moving part of the machine to engage the lever when raised, a cam for forcing the lever down out of contact with the pin and a spring for returning the ring and lever to normal position and thus resetting the retaining device when the lever is forced down by the cam.

37. In combination in a stop-motion, a plurality of sweeps, tripping mechanism controlled thereby and connections between the sweeps and the tripping mechanism comprising a plurality of rods 7, extending parallel and adjacent to the standard-springs 46 for applying tension to the rods and a collar 47 for adjusting the springs, said collar being supported on the standard and being common to the several rods, substantially as described.

38. In combination, the severing means, a detent for holding the same ready to act, a feeler, and a sweep, said feeler and sweep being arranged to operate the detent, and connections for operating the stopping devices, substantially as described.

39. In combination with a knitting machine, a stop-motion comprising a support ex tending above the machine, the sweep arranged at the upper end of the said support, severing means arranged low down in relation to said sweep and at an intermediate point on said support, the thread being led first through the severing means then through the sweep and thence to the needles, the position of the severing means in relation to the sweep being such that the loose end of the thread must travel upwardlya considerable distance before pulling through the sweep, transmitting devices and positively-operating connections between the severing means and said devices, said connections being independent of the thread and actuated positively by the movement of the severing means, substantially as described.

40. In combination, the knitting-head, a standard extending upwardly and centrally in relation to said knitting-head, a stop-motion head on said standard, tripping mechanism forming part of said stop-motion head, severing means for the yarn, an arm radiating from the stop-motion head to support the severing means, said severing means acting as the primary means for operating the tripping mechanism and connections leading from the tripping mechanism, substantially as described.

41. In combination with a knitting-head, a standard arranged above and centrally in relation to said knitting-head, a stop-motion head supported on the standard and having a centrally-arranged tripping mechanism, a supplemental tripping mechanism arranged on said head out beyond the central tripping mechanism and controlling the said central trip and a feeler and sweep controlling the said supplemental trip, substantially as described.

42. In combination with a knitting-head, a standard arranged centrally above the same, a stop-motion head supported thereon having transmitting connections arranged centrally, a trip mechanism arranged on the head out beyond the transmitting connections, a sweep, a connection extending radially of the head for controlling the tripping mechanism from the sweep, a feeler also controlling the tripping mechanism and a connection extending in a radial plane between the tripping mechanism and the centrally-arranged transmitting connections, substantially as described.

43. In combination, a plurality of severing means, one for each bobbin, detector means for controlling the severing means, a centrally-arranged tripping device common to all the severing means, and means connecting the severing means with the tripping devices, substantially as described.

4-1. In combination, the central standard, the stop-motion head thereon, a tripping device, a sweep, connections between the sweep and the tripping device extending vertically and thence in a radial plane, a connection between the tripping device and stop-motion head extending in a radial plane and a vertical connection along the standard from the stop-motion head to the let-off connections, substantially as described.

as. In combination in a stop-motion, the main tripping mechanism having a spring, a supplemental tripping mechanism having a comparatively weak spring and including severing means, controlling means for the supplemental trip, connections between the supplemental trip and the main trip, said connections including means for increasing the power from the weaker to the stronger spring, substantially as described.

e6. Incombinationinstop-motion,tl1emain tripping mechanism having a relatively stronger spring, a supplemental tripping mechanism having a comparatively Weak spring, controlling means for the supplemental trip, connections between the supplemental trip and the main trip, said connections including means for increasing the leverage from the weaker to the stronger spring, and means whereby the stronger tripping-spring will reset the supplemental tripping mechanism and its weaker spring, substantially as described.

47. In combination in a stop-motion, the main tripping mechanism, a supplemental tripping mechanism arranged to operate the main trip, detector means controlling the supplemental trip, said main trip reacting upon the supplemental trip to reset the same, substantially as described.

48. In combination in a stop-motion, the severing means, the connections controlled by the operation of the severing means, with means whereby said connections when operated act to reset the severing means, substantially as described.

49. In combination in a stop-motion, tripping mechanism including severing means, main trip mechanism controlled bythe operation of the severing means, said main tripping mechanism reacting upon the severing means to reset the same, substantially as described. v

50. A knot-catcher consisting of a plate having a series of thread-guides therein of different sizes, said plate being adjustable about its own axis, substantially as described.

51. In combination in a stop-motion for knitting-machines, a main and supplemental tripvmechanism, detector means controlling the supplemental trip means-whereby the main trip mechanism is controlled by the supplemental trip mechanism with means for resetting the supplementaltrip mechanism automatically, substantially as described.

52. In combination, the driving means, letoif connections, means for operating the letofi connections and means carried by a moving part of the off connections, substantially as described.

53. In combination, the guide and feeler, one of said parts being of loop form andthe machine for resetting the let-' other part having fingers at angles to each other, one of which projects into the loops, substantially as described. 4

54. In combination in a stop-motion tripping mechanism including detent means, detector means controlling the same and means for resetting the tripping mechanism automatically to be held by the said detent means,

substantially as described.

' ,55. In combination in a stop-motion, detector means controlled by the thread on its way to the feeding-point, tripping mechanism controlled by the detector means and means for ally, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

IRWIN F, TEANY,

FRANK wmooMs,

45 resetting the tripping mechanism automatic- 

